FBI probes Americus grant money misuse

AMERICUS, GA (WALB) -

The FBI is looking into suspected misuse of funds for grant writing purposes by the city of Americus.

Laura Lee Bernstein, the city's Chief Administrative Officer says in March, the former finance director notified the Mayor and City Council that he had paid $217,000 to Genesis, a grant writing company, but that no grants were ever received.

The mayor and city council must approve every purchase over 10-thousand dollars. An internal investigation was conducted before the FBI took over in April.

"Taxpayers are already held to having to pay so many taxes already that a city wasting that money is just inappropriate," says Bernstein. "And it's something that our mayor and city council are not going to tolerate."

The former chief administrative officer also signed off on the invoice. She has since retired and the former finance director was terminated for a non-related issue.